Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic moves out of Columbus again after one year
Columbus will miss out again on the Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic as the annual college football rivalry game is set to be played in Montgomery this year.
Morehouse College athletics director Harold Ellis informed the classic chairperson, Lisa Goodwin, that the game would be relocated this year, she told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“One of the (reasons) he mentioned to me was that it was a financial decision for them,” she said.
The Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic Board of Directors had nothing to do with the decision, Goodwin said.
Tuskegee University wants to remain in Columbus, she said, but since it is a home game for Morehouse, that school may choose the location.
“The game here in Columbus has historical significance,” Goodwin said. “And we hope that one day Morehouse College recognizes that, as Tuskegee University does.”
Tuskegee’s Golden Tigers and Morehouse’s Maroon Tigers began playing in Columbus in 1936. It had been held in Columbus for 84 consecutive years, Goodwin said, and last year marked the 85th time the game was played in Muscogee County.
Attendance was lower last year than it had been in previous years, she said. This was because it was the first time the game was played in Columbus again after being held in Birmingham for a few years.
Typically, there’s anywhere from 18,000 to 20,000 people participating in tailgating and other activities surrounding the game. Last year’s attendance was slightly under that, Goodwin said.
“There has to be consistency for people to (go) all-in and believe that it’s going to be here,” she said. “So this year, in 2025, the fact that they are leaving again makes it disappointing for us.”
Goodwin isn’t sure how long the game will be held in Montgomery.
